Emergency rescue teams have been dispatched across southern China to help the 685,000 people evacuated as a result of the flooding, which has caused $2.2 billion in damages, a statement on the Ministry of Civil Affairs website said.

But one official said Tuesday that the worst may be over.

"The rain was pretty severe earlier, but now the weather is improving," said the official surnamed Chen who answered the phone at the Hunan Water Bureau information office. Like many Chinese officials he would give only his surname. [ Yahoo News ]